From Olympic Valley and Truckee to North and South Lake Tahoe, the Sierra Nevada’s glistening mountain ski towns have plenty to offer both inside and outside of the resorts where you’ll be pummeling the powder.
The culinary scene in each snow-capped neighborhood is the perfect punctuation to a winter vacation, whether you’re there for the high-adrenaline sport or more of a chill-and-observe kind of vacation. While navigating between towns is easy enough when the weather cooperates, sometimes the food is worth traveling for and other times it’s better to stay close to home base.
We’ve organized the options by location and highlighted standouts that will have you raving as much about what you ate as about the mountain you conquered. Whether it’s before you get on your first chair lift, during a midday break, or as an après ski recharge, these are the restaurants and cafes you’ll want to hit on your next Tahoe trip.
Stateline + South Lake Tahoe
(Courtesy of Friday's Station Steak & Seafood Grill)
Perhaps the most popular ski resort in the Lake Tahoe region, plenty flock to Heavenly for more than just skiing and snowboarding. Even the scenic gondola ride is worth a trek to the top, regardless of how you plan to get back down the mountain.
You don’t have to scramble to stay inside at Heavenly Village in winter, which is set up with firepits, heaters, and live music outside at places like Base Camp Pizza Co., Fire & Ice, and Azul Latin Kitchen. If you came specifically for the food, however, you may want to wander indoors. The towering casinos adjacent to the village in Stateline house some of Tahoe’s best restaurants, including star-studded Caesars Republic Lake Tahoe (18 US-50, Stateline), classic Harrah’s Lake Tahoe (15 US-50, Stateline), and newcomer Bally’s Lake Tahoe (55 US-50, Stateline).
Wolf by Vanderpump is a maximalist’s dream; the longer you take in your surroundings, the more you will discover in the décor and details. We recommend dropping in for appetizers like their “famous” goat cheese balls, caviar, and chips, and ahi tartare tostados to have alongside a signature, hot-pink Pumptini or a chocolate-topped espresso martini. Then, dine next door at Gordon Ramsay’s Hell’s Kitchen, a decadent small chain brought to you by the man on TV. (Pro tip: Don’t skip the beef Wellington—it’s famous for a reason.)
For a restaurant with a view, Friday’s Station Steak & Seafood Grill takes you to the top floor of Harrah’s for panoramic views of the lake and surrounding mountain range. Dining at sunset, or at least properly timing your cocktails, promises some of the best sights you could imagine off of the mountain.
At Bally’s, you’ll get more casual accommodations. Situated next door to the event center (in case you’re looking for evening plans) is Ciera Steak & Chophouse, an award-winning, old-school environment known for its pistachio-encrusted rack of lamb and 30-ounce wagyu steak. Personally, I’m not leaving without the bacon appetizer. When booking, request a curtained table for the best experience.
Outside of the casinos, the food is just as delicious, simply with a different vibe. We recommend grabbing wine overlooking the lake at The Idle Hour (3351 Lake Tahoe Blvd., Ste. 6, South Lake Tahoe), a two-story wine bar with outdoor balcony seating, après ski cocktails (specifically the espresso martini) at Noel’s Coffee & Apothecary (31 US-50 #102, Stateline), and breakfast at Artemis Lakefront Café (900 Ski Run Blvd., Ste. 111, South Lake Tahoe), where you can dine on morning staples and mimosas around an over-sized lakefront firepit.
Don’t leave without stepping foot in Social House Craft Sandwiches inside of Heavenly Village (Heavenly Village Way, South Lake Tahoe). Simply walk up to the counter, ask if there’s another bar around, and put your name on the list. What you find behind the freezer door will likely surprise you.
Olympic Valley
Six Peaks Grille at Everline Resort & Spa Lake Tahoe
Shred powder like an Olympian—or at least in a historic Olympic Park. Palisades Tahoe, formerly known as Squaw Valley, which famously hosted the 1960 Olympics, is now a favorite place for diverse terrain.
Everline Resort & Spa Lake Tahoe (400 Squaw Creek Rd., Olympic Valley) is a common landing place for those who plan to ski Palisades. About 20 minutes from downtown Truckee, it’s definitely worthy of a stop-off for food whether you booked a room here or not (although, bonus, the resort offers ski-in and ski-out privileges for guests).
Six Peaks Grille is the high-end dining you’ll be craving after a day in the mountain air. The signature steakhouse boasts a menu heavy in premium cuts of beef and fresh seafood. If you’re ready to share, the tomahawk steak is a must order, especially when finished with bone marrow crust (an easy upgrade to any order). But smaller portions are also available, including filet mignon and ribeye. The traditional steakhouse treatment means you’ll be choosing between sides like ember-roasted cauliflower, pomme puree, and mushroom gnocchi. The appetizers, however, are where the chef’s creativity shines best, with sunchoke and pear soup made with sherry vinegar, wagyu beef tartare finished with seared striploin and a quail egg, and caviar shooters for a celebratory, high-end start to the meal.
During the day, Sandy’s Pub or Left of the Lift Pizza are the casual solutions to your dining needs, and for breakfast Cascades Restaurant offers options for fuel as early as 7am. If have no plans to leave the mountain, The Village at Palisades has you covered with several high-altitude dining options.
Truckee
Montesa, the new dining venue at Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe
(Courtesy of @ritzcarltonlaketahoe)
Northstar California Resort (5001 North Star Dr.) in Truckee is famous for its village at the base of the slopes. Many choose to VRBO a cabin in the area, while others take a gondola to the Ritz Carlton Lake Tahoe (13031 Ritz Carlton Highlands Ct.) for their stay.
There are plenty of fast casual options for dining at the Village at Northstar, including an ice rink bar, Wild Pine Kitchen & Bar and The Lodge at Big Springs (atop the Big Springs Gondola), but the finest fare is being served just up the road.
The Ritz Carlton Lake Tahoe’s most luxurious dining experience is at Manzanita, a newly renovated slopeside restaurant that serves American cuisine with both Spanish and mountain influences. The seasonal fare is constantly changing to feature regional ingredients but always turns out a stunning selection of steaks, pastas, seafood, and desserts, often including a decadent amuse bouche with an over-the-top presentation, fresh-shaved truffles, and charcoal butter and bread.
The resort’s other options include The Living Room, a lively and more casual restaurant on the lobby’s second floor also influenced by the Sierra landscape with a stunning cocktail list. And we’d be remiss not to mention private dining options like rentable firepits where you can order a luxury s’mores tray with fruit and other accoutrements to enjoy alongside your Old Fashioned or glass of red wine. The resort also boasts Veuve Clicquot Cabana Chalets, heated, private cabanas with fire pits, whirlpools, and a menu of Champagne, caviar, and oysters for up to eight. Their newest addition is Montesa Cantina Moderna, an elevated dining experience inspired by Mexican street food, open for both lunch and dinner.
Of course, a trip downtown—about 15 minutes from the resort—opens a whole new world of culinary favorites. Truckee, despite its expensive real estate, feels casual and cozy. Relaxed taverns and grills line Donner Pass Road (effectively the town’s Main Street) while Moody’s Bistro Bar & Beats (10007 Bridge St.) provides a low-lit, swanky dining option with an air of romance. If you’re inclined to visit for breakfast, the quirky Squeeze In (10060 Donner Pass Rd. B) chain’s original location can be found here, alien motif and all.
Incline Village
Excellent eats at Rosewood Tahoe
(Courtesy of JeffreyFreeman.com)
Finally, for those who find themselves at Diamond Peak Ski Resort in Incline Village, the accommodation of choice is the nearby Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe (111 Country Club Dr.). The posh, four-star resort is located right on the beach, with waterfront dining a serious perk for visitors.
The resort is currently undergoing a pretty massive remodel, which promises to bring additional elevated cuisine to the premises. For now, Osteria Sierra is their flagship dining spot, taking its name from the Italian word for a traditional, rustic eatery. Located on the main floor, stop in for housemade pasta, seafood, steak, and an impressive wine and cocktail list in the evenings, or a more traditional but still elevated breakfast menu from 7am to 11:30am. You can also enjoy a game at Cutthroat’s Saloon. The on-site pub boasts a swaggy pirate theme, 17 flatscreen televisions, pub fare, and seasonal brews.
Another option is to head into town where Rosewood Tahoe (930 Tahoe Blvd., Ste. 901) feels like a spot for locals. Owned by a husband-and-wife powerhouse team, the menu is best described as homegrown comfort food. A consistent winner of regional “Best Of” awards, lively Rosewood serves an impressive menu of European-influenced dishes including warm olives, polenta cakes worth writing home about, and arancini finished with Calabrian chili marinara.
The entrees are just as impressive—although it’s easy to make a meal out of shareables—with favorites including braised short rib, skirt steak served with an Italian salsa verde, and slow-roasted baby back pork ribs.
King’s Beach
(Courtesy of @smokedoor_tahoe)
Within 30 minutes of three ski resorts (Homewood, Boreal, and Northstar—the latter of which is just nine minutes away), King’s Beach offers one of the best hidden gems in the Sierra. Smoke Door (9980 N. Lake Blvd.) is a Lake Tahoe Saryo with a sister restaurant in Japan. The modern menu offers omaske lunches and dinners in a tucked away dining room so secluded you may miss it if you don’t know what you’re looking for.
Inside, the experience is unlike any other, with wine and sake pairing alongside a rotating menu of delights that include everything from yak tartare to tableside fried rice. Each course builds upon the last (resulting in six to ten courses total for dinner) and finishes with two desserts.
While the food is a stand out on its own, the ceremonial presentation of each course right down to the selection of your sake glasses makes for a stand-out evening for anyone who considers themselves a foodie.
